Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-01-21
Communicated

propounded TO us by the Virginian in Its
"Xmas gift" Memo, vain as he is, sell
confident and egotistic as be may have
always been, cannot understand why u
takes so much space to annihlate him.
II he were a Webster, a Clay or Cicero
It would be plain, but he has never before
had any of his sayings OF writings noticed
so extensively or answered at so great a
length. He will not complain, however.
II the Virgiaiaa will only remember the
limited space Memo can command ana will
"tote fair by not taking so ray much
more space than ho does. Gay not more
than twice as much he will come mp like
a man and take the written drnbbing tho
Tirginian has laid up for him.
Memo is asked (lst) What is the tariff J
(2) When and for what purpose instituted :
(3) How il can, and how 1t has subserved
that purpose lie answers (D II is
table of duties or taxes placed on imports.
(2) The date Of its Institution, not TO 90
behind the Constitution. is covered with
that instrument. II began on the ever
memorable fourth Of July-Jnly ith, l7o0.
The second act which stands recorded IN
the statute book bearing the ilustrious
signature Of George Washington laid tho
cornerstone of tho whole question. Tho
system Of protection TO American indus
tries was then inaugurated by the fathers
of the Constitution eided by the father OF
his country himself That there might bo
no mistake about the matter, they then
published to the American people, and the
world. that it was necessary for the en-
enlargement and protection Of manuiac-
lures" that duties should be laid. Tho
Virqini0n may call it "war tax" If 1t
feels so disposed, but we have long read
up on the taril with the object OF being
able to cast our vote, intelligently. on the
question and feel compelled to say that, to
the best of our weak understanding. we
can only say that all that was settled in
1916. 1924, 1929 and 1899 was that protec-
tion should be afforded 10 American indus
tries. If, while protection was given, the
interest on war debts have been paid we
have no reason TO say that the tariff was
imposed for this purpose. The latter II
merely the incident instead Of the object of
the tariff. II the disciples Of Thomas
Jefferson will only look up their history
little more closely they will find that that
great and patriotic statesman taking
view Of the system appertaining to its re-
lation TO foreign affairs (Which depart
ment he was then filing approved it's
principles and argued that "foreign re-
strctions, foreign prohibitions and foreign
high duties should be met at home by
American restrictions, American prohibi-
tions and American high duties" (3) 1t
can subserve that purpose by informing
the foreign capitalist that we will not
trade with him "across the pond BY
protective tariff we say to him, that II he
will bring his millions here, invest In our
mineral lands OF factories, help develop
our natural resources, build mp our towns
and railroads, furnish employment TO our
labOringmen and home market for our
farm and other products, we will not only
trade with him then, but will insure him
fair profit in return for his investment
and the benefits he has bestowed by so
investing This is how it can encourage
manufactures. That it has both euconr-
aged and protected manufactures here
there can be no doubt if one only glances
at the opinions Of those who are most di-
rectly opposed to the system, viz. foreign
manufacturers and traders.
We have before Us "Ryland's Iron Trade
Circular, " published at Birmingham, Eng
land, March 4th, 1871. Although nearly
sixteen years old its truths then are as po-
tent now. 1t says
"The edge-tool trade il well sustained
and we have less Of the effects OF Ameri-
can competition. That this competition
il severe. however, il fact too plainly
seen 10 be ignored. Every Canadian sea
son reveals the fact that some article at
English hardware II being snpplanird by
I the product " the Northern States, ana n
applies 10 many other branches than thai
1 OF edge.tools. IL is notorious how largely
American wares are rivaling those OF the
mother country m other Of our colonial
po.sesHons as well upon the continent -
| The ascendance Of the prOtectionist party
! in the States continues to operate most
/ favorably for the manufacturing interest
/ there. And il is 40 wonder that under
| benigndHi auspices the enterprise m this
direction is swelling TO colossal proper
! tiOns"
So say British manufacturers and British
! dealers, those who are most DESTROYS OF
| having the system abolished, and yet tariii
reformers deny that the ~ stem is IN any
way beneficial to American industry. The
J'irginidn last week said
"Still the tariff goes on. The farmers,
the workingmen and the laboringmen
taxed on every necessity they hny, toll on,
getting poorer every day
Now, really it is enough to max dog
laugh to see how the IfrgiSiaH vii. twist
around and deny its own statements. In
the very first article it Published in an
swer to Memo it said In small capitals as
plain as could be that "nine -tcnths Of the
manufactured goods used by the farmers
and laboringmen are cheaper here to-day
than in England" Afterwards it again
quoted the same sentence and added
"hence no need of tariff Now 1t urges
that because these same farmers and la
boringmen are taxed on every necessity
they buy" the tariff should be abolished.
II the VirgimdR wants TO talk tariff let 1t
take up position and hold it until driven
from it, for no one can possibly argue
against an opponent who is never found
on two consecutive occasions on the same
side of the subject. Patiently awaiting
the advent Of the avalanche" and earn
estly requesting the Virginidn to be more
consistent in its remarks, we will close.
Good bye, MEMO No. 3.
Al. G. Field e. Co.'s grand operatic MN
strels, twenty-four in number, gave one OF
their splendid entertainments in Irvine